Kneeler



ARCHER KNEELER Filed Jan. 17, 1958 ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 3, 1939 Douglas Roland Archer, Brooklyn, N. Y assignor to Archer Rubber Products Company, a carporation of New York Application January 11, ms, Serial s... 185.853

lclaim.

The invention herein disclosed relates to a cushioned kneeler, and more particularly to a kneeler having a soft flexible cushion that is rigidly secured to the kneeler.

Various attempts have heretofore been made to provide a satisfactory cushioned kneeler for churches and other places of worship. Generally. such attempts have centered around providing a cushion for the kneeler and securing the cushion in place on the kneeler by some form of covering. such as carpet, that is tacked to the wood strip that constitutes the kneeler proper. Suchkneelers have not, however, proved entirely satisfactory as they are diilcult to keep clean and they;

do not maintain their shape.

By the present invention there is provided a cushioned kneeler that is cemented to the wood strip that constitutes the ordinary wood kneeler and that does not require any covering. In ac- 20 cordance with the invention, there is provided a cushion that includes a relatively soft, flexible,

- porous rubber base of substantial thickness. To one surface of this base there is secured as by vulcanizing a flexible. relatively dense and thin, solid rubber layer having a smooth tough surface. This cushion is cemented to the wood strip and forms therewith a soft, comfortable kneeler that is easily cleaned and of good wearing qualities. Such a kne'eler is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is anisometric of a priedieu having a kneeler embodying this invention:

Fig. 2 is aplan, partly in section, of the kneeler; and

Pig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, the kneeler l is illustrated as a part of a priedieu but it is of course to be understood that it is equally applicable to all kneeiers. The kneeler illustrated includes the usual wood strip 2 that ordinarily constitutes the kneelcr and a cushion secured on the wood strip. 'Ihecushion includes a relatively soft, flexible, porous rubber base 3 of substantial thickness of the type of rubber commonly known as sponge rubber. To one surface of this cushion base there is vulcanized a relatively thin, flexible, dense solid rubber 5 layer l. This layer 4 has a smooth tough surface that has good wearing qualities and is of the type found in commercial rubber tile. The surface may also have a design thereon resembling marble. 10

This kneeler cushion may be merely laid upon the wood strip 2 or it may be cemented to it. Preferably, end plates 5 and I of metal are used at the ends of the kneeler. These plates extend over the end edges of the cushion and are fastened, as 15 by nails I, to the ends of the wood strip.

. From the foregoing, it will be seen that by this invention there is provided a'kneeler that is comfortable, readily and easily installed and sani- 20 It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing and described in detail above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim: k

A kneeler bench of the type described comprising in combination with a substantially rectangular wood strip. a cushion including a soft, flexible, substantially rectangular porous rubber base of substantial thickness having the bottom surface thereof disposed on and secured to the wooden strip; a thin, flexible, relatively dense, solid rubber layer on top of the rubber base vulcanized thereto, the sides of the rubber base being 1m- 1 covered and the front edges of the base and wood strip being substantially flush; and metallic angle plates at the ends secured to the wood strip and overlying and bearing upon the ends of the 4 cushion.

D; ROLAND ARCHER. 

